Effects of dry red wine on experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits / 中华预防医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of dry red wine in the different stages of experimental atherosclerosis (AS) at the cell, molecular and gene regulation levels in order to provide scientific basis for using dry red wine in the prevention of atherosclerosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood vessel wall pathological changes, activity of NF-kB and the expressions of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and protein kinase C (PKC alpha) were observed in dietary induced atherosclerosis rabbit model by morphology study, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and in situ hybridyzation, and the effects of dry red wine intervention were examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Dry red wine significantly suppressed the proliferation of atherosclerosis intima and NF-kappaB activation (4w 18.5 +/- 0.6 vs 13.7 +/- 0.3; 8w 26 +/- 0.9 vs 17.8 +/- 0.5; 12w 39.9 +/- 1.2 vs 27.8 +/- 0.8), and down-regulated the expressions of MCP-1 and PKC alpha.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results confirmed that dry red wine could protect AS tissues and prolong its development by suppressing NF-kappaB activation, down-regulating the expressions of MCP-1 and PKC alpha, which may take part in pathogenesis of AS.</p>